Wray Nerely always considered video games beneath him. Sure, he’d done a little voice work for some quickly canceled cartoon years ago. But grunting into a microphone, pretending to get hurt isn’t real acting!

Still, a paycheck is a paycheck and he can’t afford to be choosy. Besides, they specifically requested him for this game! And it turns out to be pretty fun… up until the point when they ask him to read for a character named Marion, who gets shot in the butt and whines about his peanut allergy.

Wray doesn’t have much but he does have his pride. And when that pride pushes him to suggest a “stronger” voice, he prides his way right out of a job. But it’s okay! Because his best buddy and former co-star Jack Moore (yes, THAT Jack Moore) calls him up and says that he wants Wray to make a movie with him.

Wray’s in such high spirits at that news that he doesn’t even mind when fellow actor Milo Ventimiglia volunteers him to appear at a comic book store opening later that night, with a bunch of other voice actors to talk about their work. Unfortunately, the news of just what movie Jack wanted Wray for will drive him to drink. And that – coupled with bad timing and Wray’s unfortunately eager booking manager Bobbie – will lead to one hell of a night.

A trigger warning may be necessary at this point. This trio of Con Men episodes proves incredibly daring, dancing along the lines of good taste regarding Wray’s voice-work portraying a series of racial and social stereotypes. Among these are a pimp named Rigmarole and a gay man named Fey Fey.

Is this offensive? It would be if it were played straight – no pun intended. But the humor stays firmly upon the situation at hand and how Wray’s work on this shameful show comes out at the worst possible moment. It’s made abundantly clear that Wray himself doesn’t harbor any racist attitudes and Alan Tudyk plays Wray as such a hapless schlep one can’t help but feel sorry for him.

Thankfully, this trio of episodes are about more than mere social commentary. There’s plenty of the geek celebrity cameos and nerdy in-jokes that have made this series an instant hit in fandom circles. There is other comedy as well, but mere description cannot do the humor of this series justice. I can’t explain why Seth Green repeatedly saying the word “hackles” is funny. It just is.

About Matt Morrison

Matt "Starman" Morrison is The Grand Exalted High Macha of Raspur - a non-existent but real-sounding country. He has been writing about comics since before the word "blogging" was coined. He enjoys acting, role-playing, movie-riffing and sarcasm. You can follow his adventures on Twitter, @GeekyGeekyWays.